Sports watching method using mobile communication means of motion picture

ABSTRACT

A sports spectating method is composed of input means (score maker system) such as a mobile terminal capable of electronically inputting states of a sports event successively, the step of successively inputting motions of players and the other information using the input terminal and transmitting their real-time data, filming means for filming the states of the sports event, the step of encoding and transmitting the states of the sports event, means for digitizing the input data and recorded image and sound data, a recording medium such as a data server for storing the digitized real-time data therein, a recording medium such as an image server for storing the digitized image therein, a recording medium such as a sound server for storing the digitized sounds therein, a mobile network system such as PDC or/and PHS and gateway and internet for converting protocol, and a mobile terminal such as a cellular phone with high function and high performance.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a Continuation-in-Part application of U.S.application Ser. No. 11/200,005 filed on Aug. 10, 2005, which is aContinuation application of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/140,442 filedon May 8, 2002 and issued into U.S. Pat. No. 6,934,510 on Aug. 23, 2005.Priority is claimed based on U.S. application Ser. No. 11/200,005 filedon Aug. 10, 2005, which claims priority to U.S. application Ser. No.10/140,442 filed on May 8, 2002 and issued into U.S. Pat. No. 6,934,510on Aug. 23, 2005, which claims priority to Japanese Patent ApplicationNo. 2001-138823 filed on May 9, 2001, all of which is incorporated byreference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a sports spectating method using mobileimage communication which records various data relating to a sportsevent which is actually played and makes a link with desired variousdata upon request from a receiving end and outputs the desired data to amobile terminal so as to display various information and images thereon.

2. Description of Related Art

In our country where sports flourish, one of the most common sports isbaseball. In the baseball, particularly professional baseball of theCentral League (common name is Ce League) and the Pacific League (commonname is Pa League), and the annual high school baseball tournaments inspring and summer which are held in Hanshin Koshien Stadium every yearcharm not only players but also spectators.

As a conventional method of spectating baseball games, a method ofactually going to a stadium and spectating games, and a method ofspectating games via mass media such as radio and television are used.Moreover, recently as for television, there are various broadcastingmeans such as ground-based broadcasting which is conventional used andsatellite broadcasting and cable television which are increasing.Accordingly, the methods of spectating baseball games are manifold.

However, most of the radio broadcasting sells live broadcasting fromplay ball to ending, but there is no means for providing informationvisually to a receiver. The radio broadcasting is not suitable for areceiver to obtain particularly various data such as batting average ofa batter, earned run average of a pitcher which are important in thelive broadcasting of baseball games when the receiver needs.

In addition, although the television broadcasting is advantageous toprovide information visually to a receiver, it has the same problem asthat of the radio broadcasting that the receiver cannot obtain necessaryinformation when necessary. Moreover, the ground-based televisionbroadcasting covers live games only within determined broadcasting time,and frequently the broadcasting is ended in the middle of the games.This problem is now being solved because various broadcasting means suchas satellite live broadcasting and cable television increase. However,in order to enjoy this kind of service, an antenna should be set or atelevision set including a special tuner should be purchased, namely,this service has a disadvantage that receivers which can enjoy thisservice are limited.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a system which usesmobile terminals such as internet recently spreading and a cellularphone having high function and high performance and outputs desired datato the mobile terminals upon a request from a receiving end so as to becapable of suitably displaying various sports event information andimages thereon in forms of characters, graphics, or still and dynamicinformation.

A first aspect of the invention is to provide a sports event spectatingmethod using mobile image communication, including: input means (scoremaker system) such as a mobile terminal capable of electronicallyinputting states of a sports event successively, the step ofsuccessively inputting motions of players and the other informationusing said input terminal and transmitting their real-time data; filmingmeans for filming the states of the sports event; the step of encodingand transmitting the states of the sports event; means for digitizingthe input data and recorded image and sound data; a recording mediumsuch as a data server for storing the digitized real-time data therein;a recording medium such as an image server for storing the digitizedimage therein; a recording medium such as a sound server for storing thedigitized sounds therein; a mobile network system such as PDC or/and PHSand gateway and internet for converting protocol; and a mobile terminalsuch as a cellular phone with high function and high performance,wherein various data are linked and are output to the mobile terminalupon a receiving end's request, and the various information and theimages are displayed as character display, graphic display orstill/dynamic information.

Another aspect of the invention is to provide the sports eventspectating method using mobile image communication depending from theabove aspect wherein the various information and images which are outputto and displayed on the mobile terminal such as a cellular phone are anoutput section of pitcher's actions, an output section of a batter andan output section of the other information; a at least one or aplurality of a clock section showing starting time and ending time ofthe game, a name or a part number of a pitcher at that time, a name or apart number of an opponent batter, a type and a speed of pitch such ascurve, screwball or slider, a graphic of a strike zone whichsimultaneously makes type and speed of the pitch clear are displayed onsuitable places in the output section of the pitcher's actions; at leastone or a plurality of a diamond graphic showing names or part numbers ofall fielders and a batter in predetermined positions, and outputsections of strikeouts, mishit, hit, double, triple and home run aredisplayed on suitable places in the output section of the batter'sactions; at least one or a plurality of names of both the teams in thegame, names of the players including reserve players, a graphic of thescoreboard, count of strike, ball and out, and various data of thepitcher such as earned run average, strikeout average, the number ofstrikeouts, the number of pitches, the number of pitching innings, thenumber of hits, the number of home runs allowed, the number of walks pernine innings, a number of errors, past winning percentage, win, lose andresults of meeting respective batters, various data of a batter such asbatting average, the number of hits, the number of home runs, the numberof RBIs, score, the number of walks allowed per nine innings and resultsof meeting respective pitchers are displayed on suitable places of theother information section.

Still another aspect of the invention is to provide the sports eventspectating method using mobile image communication depending from theabove two aspects wherein: when the batter gains a base or move up abase due to hit, double, triple, home run, bases on balls, error,strikeout swinging and reaching first on a passed ball, wild pitch,passed ball or base steal, the name or the part number of the batter isdisplayed on a predetermined position of the diamond graphic; every timewhen base a runner reaches the home base, points are displayed on apredetermined place of the scoreboard graphic; when the third out ismade before runners reach the home base, “0” is displayed automaticallyon a predetermined place of the scoreboard graphic.

On the whole, according to the present invention, the input means (scoremaker system) such as a mobile terminal is used to electronically inputstates of a sports event successively, or the filming means is used tofilm the states, and the states are encoded and digitized so as to beused as data base. As a result, desired various data are linked upon areceiving end's request and are output to the mobile terminal so thatthe various information can be displayed suitably as character display,graphic display or still/dynamic information.

The present invention has another objects excellent structuralcharacteristics and excellent effects, and they are made to be clear bythe following embodiments. For the description of the present invention,i-mode (registered trademarks of NTT DoCoMo, Inc.) and i-apply(registered trademarks of NTT DoCoMo, Inc.) are used as examples of themobile terminal, but needless to say, it is not limited to them.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 shows one example of an output setting main menu which is outputto a display of a hand-held terminal;

FIG. 3 shows an example 1 of an output setting sub-menu which is outputto the display of the hand-held terminal;

FIG. 4 shows an example 2 of an output setting sub-menu which is outputto the display of the hand-held terminal;

FIG. 5 shows an example 3 of an output setting sub-menu which is outputto the display of the hand-held terminal;

FIG. 6 shows an example 4 of an output setting sub-menu which is outputto the display of the hand-held terminal;

FIG. 7 shows an example 5 of an output setting sub-menu which is outputto the display of the hand-held terminal;

FIG. 8 shows an example 1 of data which are output to the display of thehand-held terminal;

FIG. 9 shows an example 2 of data which are output to the display of thehand-held terminal;

FIG. 10 shows an example 6 of an output setting sub-menu which is outputto the display of the hand-held terminal;

FIG. 11 shows an example 3 of data which are output to the display ofthe hand-held terminal;

FIG. 12 shows an example 7 of an output setting sub-menu which is outputto the display of the hand-held terminal;

FIG. 13 shows an example 8 of an output setting sub-menu which is outputto the display of the hand-held terminal;

FIG. 14 shows an example 4 of data which are output to the display ofthe hand-held terminal;

FIG. 15 shows an example 5 of data which are output to the display ofthe hand-held terminal;

FIG. 16 shows an example 6 of data which are output to the display ofthe hand-held terminal;

FIG. 17 shows one example of a waiting screen which is displayed on thedisplay of the hand-held terminal;

FIG. 18 shows an example 1 of matchup result data which are output tothe display of the hand-held terminal;

FIG. 19 shows an example 2 of matchup result data which are output tothe display of the hand-held terminal;

FIG. 20 shows an example 3 of matchup result data which are output tothe display of the hand-held terminal;

FIG. 21 shows an example 4 of matchup result data which are output tothe display of the hand-held terminal;

FIG. 22 shows an example 5 of matchup result data which are output tothe display of the hand-held terminal; and

FIG. 23 shows an example 6 of matchup result data which are output tothe display of the hand-held terminal.

FIGS. 24A-B show an example of baseball game data which are output tothe display of the hand-held terminal.

FIG. 25 shows an example of golf matchup result data which are output tothe display of the hand-held terminal.

FIG. 26 shows an example of soccer game data which are output to thedisplay of the hand-held terminal.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(1) in the drawing shows a baseball stadium where a baseball game isactually played. Moreover, (2) shows input means (score maker system)such as a mobile device which is capable of electronically inputtingstates of the baseball game sequentially. It is preferable that one orplural input means 2 are prepared in order to cover the states of thebaseball game in detail or to cover so-called omissions of input andimprove the accuracy.

In addition, (3) shows filming means for filming states of the baseballgame. It is preferable that one or plural filming means are provided inorder to cover the states of the baseball game in all directions or toprovide boom shot for capturing real movements and states of players andcapture notable player's every actions as zoom wide images.

Here, the input means (score maker system) 2 means a system for doing aso-called scorer's work electronically without using paper but usinginput means such as a mobile terminal. This system is characterized inthat various information such as types of every pitch and results of thepitches (strike, ball, foul, hit, double, triple, home run) can be inputaccording to independent conditions. This system includes filming ofplay ball through progression of the game using a camcorder or a digitalcamera including a digital video camera.

In addition, (4) in the drawing shows the step of digitizing andencoding real-time data and images collected by the input terminal, (5)shows a data server for storing the digitized real-time data, (6) showsan image server for storing the digitized image, (7) shows a soundserver for storing the digitized sound, (8) shows a mobile networksystem such as PDC or/and PHS and a gateway and an internet forconverting protocol, and (9) shows a mobile terminal such as a cellularphone having high function and high performance.

First Embodiment

A person who performs input brings the input means (2) to the baseballstadium (1) where a baseball game is actually played. The base ball gamewhich has been actually played is firstly recorded on VTR and it isallowable to perform input while watching the VTR.

The input means (2) is actuated simultaneously with the announcement ofthe play ball. Not shown particularly, but since an input screen whichis composed of an input section of a pitcher action, a butter andfielding input section and the other information section is displayed ona display section (10) of the input means (2), actions of every playersuch as types of each pitch according to game states and results ofpitch number (strike, ball, foul, hit, double, triple, home run) and theother information are input according to independent conditions so thatreal-time data can be collected.

In such a manner, the input operation of pitcher's and batter's everyaction and their results in the baseball stadium is completed byinputting various data into the display section (10) of the inputterminal (2) until the baseball game is ended or the necessary number ofinput times is ended.

In such a manner, the data are digitized and are transmitted to the dataserver (5) so as to be stored therein by the step (4) of transmittingthe data.

At the same time, the filming means (3) is driven so as to startfilming. Simultaneously, a sound is also started to be recorded by usingsound recording means provided to the filming means. In order to linkthe images and sounds which are filmed and recorded in such a mannerwith the real-time data collected by the input means (2), it isdesirable to provide a system which stores the filming and recordingtime and calls particular data and/or image based on the time.

As for a time compressing function, since a protocol of MPEG 2 (MovingPicture Experts Group 2) exists, the time compression of the informationis carried out using this characteristic, link between the time and theimages, a link between the time and the data and the like are combinedso that the data information can be incorporated into broadcastinginformation.

Namely, in the MPEG 2, received frames are not successively decoded andtime-compressed frames include I frames, P frames and predicted framescreated by I and P frames.

For example, IBBP and received frames are decoded in the order of IPPBand after a P frame is firstly calculated, two B frames are calculatedby using an I frame, and two B frames are created by using next I frame.

The above-mentioned processing technique of the frames are applied,namely, two basic data stream formats are processed by a software sothat packet multi-transmission can be carried out. Moreover, the datainto which closed-captioned text data are incorporated are transmittedto a user (receiver) with TS (Transform Stream) packet so that the user(receiver) can select desired data.

The recorded image and sound data are transmitted to the image server(6) where the digitized images are stored and the sound server (7) wherethe digitized sounds are stored so as to be stored therein via the step(4).

As for the various data which are collected respectively in the dataserver (5) for storing digitized real-time data therein, the imageserver (6) for storing digitized images therein and the sound server (7)for storing digitized sounds therein, desired data are output to themobile terminal (9) such as a cellular phone with high function and highperformance which is now spreading upon a receiving end's (user's)request via the mobile network systems such as PDC or/and PHS and thegateway and internet (8) for converting protocol. As a result, thevarious information, images and sounds can be displayed suitably ascharacter display or graphic display or still/dynamic information.

In addition, the mobile network systems such as PDC or/and PHS and thegateway and internet (8) for converting protocol are provided also witha content data server (14) for storing profiles and additional data ofplayers. The content data server (14) is linked with the variousinformation, images and sounds as the need arises so that the contentdata as well as the various information, images and sounds can bedisplayed suitably on the mobile terminal (9) of the receiving end(user).

Further, the respective data of the data server (5), the image server(6), the sound server (7) and the content data server (14) are readdirectly via the mobile network systems such as PDC or/and PHS and viathe gateway and internet (8) for converting protocol because the mobileterminal (9) such as a cellular phone with high function and highperformance including “i-phone”, “i-mode” and “i-apply” (registeredtrademarks of NTT DoCoMo, Inc.) is now spreading.

Second Embodiment

There will be explained below output concretely. When the receiveroutputs data information, image data or sound data, the mobile terminal(9) is firstly actuated so that an output setting main menu (A) shown inFIG. 2 is displayed on a display.

Respective input keys for selecting as to whether desired information isgame data (51), image data (52), sound data (53) or the other data (54)are arranged and displayed on suitable places. The receiver clicks adesired place.

In the case where the receiver selects and clicks the game data (51) inthe output setting main menu (A) shown in FIG. 2, respective input keysof an output setting sub-menu (B1) for selection from pitcher data (61),batter data (62), fielder data (63) or the other data (64) are arrangedand displayed on suitable places as shown in FIG. 3. The receiver clicksa desired place.

When the receiver selects and clicks the pitcher data (61) in the outputsetting sub-menu shown in FIG. 3, respective input keys in an outputsetting sub-menu (B4) for selection from earned run average (91), thenumber of pitches (92), hits (93) or the others (94) are arranged anddisplayed on suitable places as shown in FIG. 6. The receiver clicks adesired place.

When the receiver selects and clicks the earned run average (61) in theoutput setting sub-menu (B4) shown in FIG. 6, earned run average (91) ofthe pitcher currently in pitching is displayed on the display of themobile terminal (9) owned by the receiver as shown in FIG. 7.

The output setting sub-menu (B4) sown in FIG. 6 preferably includes atleast earned run average (91), the number of pitches (92), hits (93) andalso, particularly not shown, the number of games that the pitcher comesin, the number of complete games, the number of shutout games, thenumber of complete games without BB, the number of victories, the numberof loses, the number of saves, save point, winning percentage, battersfaced, the carrier number of pitches, career opponents batting average,the number of home runs allowed, the career number of home runs allowed,the umber of strikeouts, the career number of strikeouts, strikeoutaverage, career strikeout average, the number of base on balls, thecareer number of base on balls, the number of hit by pitch, the careernumber of hit by pitch, the number of wild pitches, the career number ofwild pitches, the number of balks, the career number of balks, runsallowed, career runs allowed, earned runs, and career earned runs.

Further, when the batter data (62) in the output setting sub-menu (B1)shown in FIG. 3 is selected and clicked similarly, respective input keysin an output setting sub-menu (B5) for selection from batting average(101), RBI (102), the number of home runs (103) and the others (104) arearranged and displayed on suitable places as shown in FIG. 8. Thereceiver clicks a desired place.

When the receiver selects and clicks the batting average (101) in theoutput setting sub-menu (B5) shown in FIG. 8, the earned run average(91) of the pitcher currently in pitching in the game is displayed onthe display of the mobile terminal (9) owned by the receiver as shown inFIG. 9.

The output setting sub-menu (B5) show in FIG. 8 preferably includes atleast batting average (101), RBI (102), the number of home runs (103),and also particularly not shown, Batting Average with Runners in ScoringPosition, the number of game played, plate appearance, at bats, points,the number of hits, the number of doubles, the number of triples, totalbases, the number of strikeouts, the number of walks, the number of hitby pitch, the number of sacrifice hits, the number of sacrifice flies,the number of stolen bases, the number of ground into double plays(including triple play), on-base percentage, and slugging average.

When the receiver selects and clicks the fielder data (63) in the outputsetting sub-menu (B1) shown in FIG. 3 similarly, respective input keysin an output setting sub-menu (B6) for selection from the number oferrors (111), position (112), shift (113) and the others (114) arearranged and displayed on suitable places as show in FIG. 10. Thereceiver clicks a desired place.

When the receiver selects and clicks shift (113) in the output settingsub-menu (B6) shown in FIG. 10, shift disposition (113) of the currentgame is displayed on the display of the mobile terminal (9) owned by thereceiver as shown in FIG. 11.

Third Embodiment

There will be explained below the outputs of the image data concretely.As shown in FIG. 2, the image data (52) in the output setting menu (A)output to the mobile terminal (9) are selected and clicked there.

In this case, as shown in FIG. 4, the respective input keys of theoutput setting sub-menu (B2) for selection from pitcher (71), batter(72), fielder (73) and the other (74) are arranged and displayed on thesuitable places. The receiver clicks a desired place.

As shown in FIG. 12, respective input keys in an output setting sub-menu(B7) for selection of a team are arranged and displayed on suitableplace, and when input is performed, respective input keys in an outputsetting sub-menu (B8) for selection of a player are arranged anddisplayed on suitable places as shown in FIG. 13. Images composed ofdynamic display, still display or their combination are output as shownin FIGS. 14 through 16 by clicking a desired place.

Fourth Embodiment

There will be explained below output of the sound data concretely. Asshown in FIG. 2, the sound data (53) in the output section main menu (A)output to the mobile terminal (9) is selected and is clicked.

In this case, as shown in FIG. 5, respective input keys in an outputsetting sub-menu (B3) for selection from main sound (81), sub-sound(82), main/sub-sound (83) and the others (84) are arrange and displayedon suitable places The receiver clicks a desired place. While soundoutput, a waiting screen shown in FIG. 17 is displayed on the display ofthe mobile terminal (9), but the present invention can be carried outwithout this.

The various data and the image data and the sounds are linked and theycan be suitably output together to the mobile terminal (9) of thereceiving end (user) as the need arises.

Fifth Embodiment

The information output in such a manner is shown in FIGS. 18 through 26,and the information will be further detailed. Besides the various datawhich are output as the output sections of the pitcher's actions, it ispreferable that at least a clock section which shows the starting timeand the ending time of the game, display of inning, display of firsthalf or second half of inning, name or part number of the pitcher incurrently pitching, name or part number of opponent batter, type andspeed of pitch such as curve, screwball and slider, a graphic of astrike zone showing stuff that simultaneously makes type and speed ofthe pitch clear, a diamond graphic showing the baseball ground, andcurrent score and score board are arranged and displayed on suitableplaces.

Further, the output sections of the batter actions, besides the variousdata which have been output before, it is preferable that at least adiamond graphic which shows names or part numbers of all the fieldersand the batter on predetermined positions, and output sections ofstrikeouts, mishit, hit, double, triple and home run are arranged anddisplayed on suitable places.

Further as for the other information sections, besides the various datawhich have been output before, it is preferable that at least names ofthe opponent teams in the game, names of the players including reserveplayers, a graphic of the scoreboard, count of strike, ball and out, andvarious data of the pitcher such as earned run average, strikeoutaverage, the number of strikeouts, the number of pitches, the number ofpitching innings, the number of hits, the number of home runs allowed,the number of walks per nine innings, the number of errors, past winningpercentage, win, lose, and results of meeting respective batters, andvarious data of a batter such as batting average, the number of hits,the number of home runs, the number of RBIs, score, the number of baseson balls, results of meeting respective pitchers are arrange anddisplayed on suitable places.

As the game proceeds, when the batter get a base or moves up a base dueto hit, double, triple, home run, bases on balls, error, strikeoutswinging and reaching first on a passed ball, wild pitch, passed ball orbase steal, the name or the part number of the batter is displayed on apredetermined position of the diamond graphic. Every time when a baserunner reaches the home base, the points are displayed on apredetermined place of the scoreboard graphic. When the third out ismade before the runner reaches the home base “0” is preferably displayedautomatically on a predetermined place of the scoreboard graphic.

Further, at this time it is preferable that a line (131) isautomatically drawn between a position to which a ball batted by thebatter flies and a home plate in the diamond graphic (128).

In addition, the image data (52) which are output according to theabove-mentioned procedure are set preferably so that an image composedof dynamic image, still image or their combination can be displayed on apart of the display or the entire display.

Furthermore, it is preferable that, for example, the image data (52)which are composed of the output dynamic display, still display or theircombination are set so that images of opponent pitcher and batter aretaken out and are arranged without overlapping and their expressions andactions are displayed simultaneously as shown in FIG. 19.

FIGS. 24A-B show a more detailed and complex screen presentation relatedto a baseball game. The mobile terminal (9) first shows in a firstscreen a square diagram next to the illustration of a batter (FIG. 24A).The square diagram is a depiction of the batting box showing where eachpitch in a sequence of pitches crossed home plate. When the user clickson a dot representing the last pitch in the sequence, the mobileterminal (9) starts playing a video of that pitch in conjunction with atop view of the filed showing the route of the hit ball (FIG. 24B),which shows the last pitch was a homerun hit. The video can be showneither in another/next screen or side-by-side with the square diagram ofthe first screen, depending upon the screen size of the mobile terminal(9).

The present invention can be applied to all kind of sports, includingspectator sports (e.g., cricket, ice hockey, basketball, baseball,football, soccer, golf, etc), as long as the video data and other dataare available.

In FIG. 25, the mobile terminal (9) first shows a top view of thegreenway marked with a golfer's shots to a particular hole. When theuser clicks on any of the dots in the top view diagram, or one of thelabels “Shot 1”, “Shot 2”, etc. below the top view diagram, the mobileterminal (9) starts of video of that shot, either in another screen orat the lower right corner as pointed by a large arrow, depending uponthe screen size of the mobile terminal (9).

FIG. 26 shows how a user can track a live or past game using an internetbrowser. The field diagram in the top center shows the course of theball across the soccer field. When the users clicks on any of the dotsin the diagram, it starts a video of a soccer player handling the ballat that point, as seen in the upper right corner.

The invention is applied to soccer differently form golf in term oftiming of data recording. For sports such as soccer where there is a settime limit and frequent movements of the ball, the video footage istaken continuously throughout the game. These video data are linked to atimeline since the start of the match. There are recorded position dataof the ball on the field according to a measurement grid, and recordedaction data of the players who handled the ball by uniform number andhow the ball was handled (pass, shoot, dribble, etc.). Like the videodata, the position data and the action data are linked to the timeline.In FIG. 26, when the user clicks on a dot in the field diagram, the useris in fact selecting a datum from the database of the position data.This datum is linked to a time point on the timeline. The invention thencalls up the action data and the video data that are linked to that sametime point on the timeline.

For sports such as baseball and golf where actions are infrequent actionand there are extended times of relative inaction (batters coming toplate, golfers walking to their next shot, etc.), the video data issaved only for time points of actions. This is to efficiently use theavailable capacity of data storage and retrieval. In the cases of thesesports, the video data is linked directly to the position data, whichmay be a starting time point of a golf shot or the position of a pitchcrossing home plate in baseball, rather than a starting time of a gameas in soccer.

As mentioned above, the present invention produces the effect that withthe use of the mobile terminal such as a cellular phone owned by thereceiver, the receiver who is unskillful at a computer can be providedwith information easily and the operation becomes very simple. Moreover,since the equipment used to carry out the present invention is notnecessarily special equipment, when a baseball game is not ordinarilybroadcasted, the mobile terminal can be used for conventional purposes,namely, it is reasonable.

In addition, since the receiver can be provided with information in thereceiver's desirable place, it is not necessary to take the time towatch a broadcasting game in a baseball stadium where the game isactually played or on TV.

Further, even in the case of important games such as matchup of the toptwo teams or Japan series which is forgotten absently, since theinformation can be provided on the spot, the receiver never miss thegame and thus does not regret it.

Needless to say, the present invention may be used while watching abroadcasting game in a baseball stadium where the game is playedactually or on TV. In this case, since the receiver can be provided withdesirable information, the present invention contributes to takingenjoyment in the game.

On the whole, it is the effect of the present invention is that internetwhich is now spreading and the mobile terminal such as a cellular phonewith high performance and high function are used and desired data areoutput to the mobile terminal upon a receiving end's request so thatvarious information and images relating to a baseball game desired bythe receiver can be displayed suitably as character display, graphicdisplay, or still/dynamic information.

1. A sports spectating method using mobile image communication,comprising: filming the sports live; textually inputting states of thesports sequentially into at least one mobile communication device in areal-time manner, said states including motions of players; digitizingthe real-time data including input data and filmed image and sound data;transmitting the digitized data of the sports via a mobile networksystem or internet to one mobile communication device as requested;displaying on the mobile communication device the transmitted data ofthe sports as characters, graphics and images, said images including acourse of a ball across a field in a top view and a video of a playerhandling the ball at a time point when a user requesting the video ofthe ball.
 2. The sports spectating method according to claim 1, whereinthe real-time data includes at least one of scores of the sports, astarting time and an ending time of the sports, a name or an ID numberof each player, a graphic of a playing field, images of scoreboard, apast winning percentage of teams, past performance data of the players3. The sports spectating method according to claim 2, wherein the sportsis a spectator sports.
 4. The sports spectating method according toclaim 2, wherein the spectator sports is cricket, ice hockey,basketball, baseball, football, soccer, or golf.
 5. The sportsspectating method according to claim 1, wherein the mobile networksystem complies with at least one of Personal Digital Cellular phonestandard (PDC) and Personal Handyphone System (PHS).
 6. The sportsspectating method according to claim 1, wherein the mobile communicationdevice is a cellular phone or a personal digital assistant (PDA).
 7. Thesports spectating method according to claim 2, wherein at least onegraphic is shown on the mobile communication device to display names orID numbers of selected players in predetermined positions.
 8. The sportsspectating method according to claim 1, wherein the sports is filmedwith a tape recorder, a camcorder, a digital camera, or the mobilecommunication device.
 9. The sports spectating method according to claim1, further comprising encoding the digitized data of the sports in aformat for transmitting via the mobile network system or the internet.